Summer Camps 2012: Jr. Bison Bot Camp

Every year I try to find a summer camp for each child. I think camps are an excellent way for my children to experience something new and have an opportunity to be away from the rest of us for a while. I have several things I am looking for in a summer camp.

• The camp has to be a good price. 
• I must be able to drop off my child and not hang around.
• It must provide an enrichment opportunity. 

This week was my son's camp. He attended Lipscomb University's Junior Bison Bot Camp. The camp is designed to teach basic electronics and robotics to rising 3rd and 4th graders. Nissan, who has a plant here in middle Tennessee, was an active partner and not only provided scholarships, but also had engineers attend the camp to answer questions about engineering and industry. The kids made several robots and mechanical contraptions including a mechanical hand, a line following robot that won't run of the edge of the desk, a doodle bot that draws circles as it dances across paper, a wooden robot that walks, and a buzz wire game similar to how the game Operation works.


The faculty and staff were fantastic. They had plenty of staff there to help children with any problems. My son came home buzzing about things they did and the possibilities that robotics and engineering offers for the future.  I try to give honest reviews by listing pros and cons, but this is a time when I have no critiques. Well done!

Here are some of the videos my son has introduced to us this week. Most of the videos were from the company Boston Dynamics which has become a household name here.